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Cherington ready for action at Winter Meetings

Cherington ready for action at Winter Meetings

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Red Sox's 2013 wish list 1:22

11/30/12: Pete McCarthy and Jim Duquette break down the Red Sox's shopping list and how they will look to fill the vacancy at first base

By Ian Browne
/
MLB.com |

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For the last few weeks, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has scoured the market and even made a couple of complementary moves. But now that Cherington and his entire baseball operations staff are on the ground in Nashville for the Winter Meetings, impact transactions could be in store.

There are vacancies to fill at first base, in right field, the starting rotation and possibly shortstop.

With all 30 Major League teams under one roof -- not to mention virtually every agent in the game -- the setting should be ripe for some action.

"We're still looking to add in the outfield and pitching staff, and still working on some options at first base," said Cherington. "We'll see what [unfolds during the next week]. There will be lots of activity [in Nashville]. It doesn't mean that we necessarily land things, but there's still lots of work to do this offseason."

How close is Cherington to further bolstering his roster?

"There [are] things we know we could do right now; things we're not ready to do right now," Cherington said. "There [are] things we're choosing not to do right now. So I think there's still time ... there's a lot of time before pitchers and catchers report -- and plenty of time to do stuff."

Once the Winter Meetings begin, things can happen at a faster pace.

"You know the water's kind of moving down the river, but hasn't gotten to a waterfall yet," Cherington said. "The Winter Meetings [are] usually when the water starts getting a little quicker and things start falling. Sometimes there's a domino effect to these things, we'll see how it plays out. We're actively engaged on a number of fronts: trade market, free-agent market. There'll be ways to improve the team; we just have to see how it plays out."

While the Red Sox will be in full action in Nashville until the Winter Meetings conclude on Dec. 6, MLB.com and redsox.com will be there every step of the way with multiple stories and blog posts on a daily basis.

As news unfolds, we will not only report it, but analyze it.

New Red Sox manager John Farrell will also be on hand in Nashville, and is scheduled to meet with the media on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

What do Red Sox fans think the team needs to get back to contender status in 2013 and beyond? Feel free to chime in on the comments section in this story or any of the upcoming updates on redsox.com during the Winter Meetings.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.